After a long drama months in the making, the city of Parlier fired its attorney, Neal Costanzo. The 4-1 vote out of closed session at a special July 10 meeting, ended for now the city council’s unhappiness with Costanzo.

“Now we have to worry about our $4 million lawsuit,” Mayor Alma Beltran said in the final moments of the meeting. She was referring to an ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit from fired police chief Jose Garza, set to go to trial on Sept. 3.

Beltran was the lone no vote. Cathy Solorio, Janie Molina, Diego Garza and Sabrina Rodriguez voted in favor of the termination.

Costanzo served six years as Parlier’s attorney. He also is the attorney for several other cities and special districts.

“It is what it is,” Costanzo told GV Wire on Tuesday. “I just keep chugging along.”

On Aug. 1, the city council voted 5-0 to hire Meggin Boranian of Clovis-based Fike & Boranian as interim city attorney.

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The continued battles on the council drew a rebuke from citizens.

“You’re disrespecting the seat you hold, and you are disrespecting everyone here,” one public commenter said on July 10.

Beltran, speaking to GV Wire on Tuesday, lamented the decision to fire Costanzo. She called it a shame.

“There was no reason behind it other than personal feelings. When you want to move a city forward, you don’t base it on your feelings. It’s based on what’s the best for the city of Parlier,” Beltran said.

Beltran said the council will vote on a separate contract to allow Costanzo to continue representing the city in the Garza lawsuit.

This Council Fired City Attorney, City Manager

Costanzo is the latest casualty of a council that pundits have described as incompetent and ineffective.

Solorio, Molina and Garza had looked to hire another city attorney, if not outright replace Costanzo, since July 2023. GV Wire previously reported that the council majority was dissatisfied with the advice Costanzo offered.

Several attempts to place the item on the agenda were thwarted by Beltran and Costanzo via legal maneuvering.

Momentum changed in February when the council first voted to fire City Manager Sonia Hall. Acting city manager David Cerda — also the city’s police chief — allowed the item to be placed on the agenda for discussion. The council eventually terminated Hall on April 18 on a 5-0 vote. She had been on leave since February.

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City Council Almost Fired Attorney in June

On June 13, Molina, Garza and Solorio called for a special meeting, which only they attended. They voted 3-0 to fire Costanzo.

However, Costanzo and Beltran said the contract with the attorney called for four votes. Neither Costanzo nor the city could produce the actual signed contract, approved in November 2022, requiring the higher vote threshold.

The city council approved a contract with a second attorney — Liebert, Cassidy and Whitmore for special legal services on June 17. But, the council did not specify what services they would perform.

Again, Solorio, Molina and Garza called for a special July 10 meeting to define LCW’s role.

In the open portion of the July 10 meeting, Costanzo went at length to explain why the motion as written would fail any legal test. After a nearly 45 minute legal lecture, the council changed the language, explaining LCW’s duties. Essentially, it was to consult with Costanzo on legal matters.

But, Costanzo lasted just approximately another hour and 15 minutes, before the closed session.

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This all came under the backdrop of the city missing a June 30 deadline to approve a budget. Beltran tells GV Wire that its recently hired finance director, Israel Cardenas, resigned.

Two city councilmembers are up for re-election on Nov. 5. Rodriguez faces Juan Montano and Fernando Banuelos in District 1.

In District 3, Solorio faces Claudia Vera, Michelle Lopez, and Alfred Gonzales.